Section 17

Notwithstanding any proceedings which may be instituted under section 4 or 6, the Director or the Port Master may detain any vessel if the Director or the Port Master has reasonable cause to believe that any oil or mixture containing oil, refuse, garbage, waste matter, substance of a dangerous or obnoxious nature or trade effluent has been discharged or has escaped from the vessel and that the owner of the vessel has incurred a liability under section 13 or 14, and the vessel may be so detained until the owner of the vessel deposits with the Government or the Port of Singapore Authority a sum of money or furnishes such security which would, in the opinion of the Director or the Port Master, be adequate to meet the owner’s liability incurred under section 13 or 14.

Section 3(1)(a) of the High Court (Admiralty Jurisdiction) Act [Cap. 123] shall be construed as extending to any claim in respect of a liability incurred by the owner of a ship under this Act.